This project provides access to a Bachelors degree through an online program for eligible refugees from Kakuma refugee camp and members of the Kenyans from the underdeveloped community adjacent to the camp located in northwestern Kenya. The first and current cohort is made up of 17 students, who are registered to two majors- Business Administration and Computer Science. Upon finishing their studies, the students will acquire a B.A or an associate degree in their fields.
Kakuma refugee camp was established in 1992, and is home to 187,000 refugees. The camp has primary schools and several secondary schools but offers no tertiary education options. The situation of the host community- the Turkana tribe- is not much better. As one of the poorest communities in Kenya, the Turkana have severly limited options for tertiary education across the country and none, at this time, in Kakuma and the greater Kakuma catchment zone. Without tertiary education, wage employment o
The online B.A program is provided by University of the People, which is a registered university in the US, and only requires exam fees (no tuition fees). This project will provide refugees and members of the host community the opportunity to acquire a B.A without leaving their families and homes. The online nature of the program allows them to fit the courses into their existing schedules, which gives the students the option to continuing working to support their families while they study. Beca
The addition of a B.A. will greatly influence the lives of these students. For the refugees in the program this means earning skills that will make them viable in the job markets of the countries they left behind, and could encourage repatriation and diminish their dependence on the camp. Additionally, because University of the People is an American accredited university, should those refugee students choose to pursue third-country resettlement in the west, their degree will be accepted in their
